New York Daily News

DEFENSIVE QB

-

THE HONEY BADGER is on the market and the Giants could be potential suitors.

The Arizona Cardinals announced on Wednesday they have released safety Tyrann Mathieu after failing to reach an agreement on restructur­ing his contract.

Mathieu, 25, was not designated as a post-June 1 cut so the Cardinals will take the full cap charge for 2018, which is $9.3 million, saving just $4.8 million in cap space.

The Giants have his former defensive coordinato­r, James Bettcher, who is bringing the same defensive scheme Mathieu is familiar with to New York, which could entice Mathieu to follow him there.

They also have one of Mathieu’s former LSU teammates: Odell Beckham Jr.

Mathieu makes sense for the Giants defense, where he could play alongside Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins, making up a lethal duo for opposing offenses. Bettcher could also use Mathieu at slot corner, too, a position the Giants have a need to fill after releasing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

The Giants were already tight with cap space entering free agency with $26.5 million and handed out a $60 million contract to left tackle Nate Solder on Wednesday, which will reportedly cost $10 million against the cap this season.

Mathieu would not take a pay cut with the Cardinals so he would likely seek a large contract too, which might force the Giants to cut some players and restructur­e other deals if they want a chance to land him.

The Jets may also have interest, with head coach Todd Bowles being Mathieu’s defensive coordinato­r prior to Bettcher. at left tackle with the addition of Nate Solder, they still have work to do on the interior of the line but could be ready to move on from Pugh.

At least the Giants found their “defensive quarterbac­k.”

The Giants made their trade with the Rams for linebacker Alec Ogletree official on Wednesday, with GM Dave Gettleman — who traded a fourth and sixth-round pick for him — lauding Ogletree’s leadership in a statement. “We’re very excited to have made the trade for Alec. He gives us our defensive quarterbac­k,” he said.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States